Enneagram 5 is the Observer, the Investigator. They are often hard to understand because they are reserved and tend to be extremely private in every aspect of their lives. 5’s are motivated by the need to know and understand everything, to be self-sufficient, and to avoid looking foolish. They want to be seen as competent or as intellectual by those around them.
Enneagram 5, 6 and 7’s tend to live in their heads, whereas, in contrast, 8, 9 and 1’s primarily operate out of their body, while 2, 3 and 4’s from their heart.
Fives Focus
Fives usually do not have a large social group but focus on meaningful connections with the friends they do have. Being around a lot of people tends to drain them so they often keep people out, to not experience that kind of overwhelm. They tend to have a fear of the outer world so they withdraw, gather information and minimize their need for other people. For them, the more knowledge they have the safer their world is. Knowledge becomes a comfort. They stay in the background paying attention but they do remember stuff. You might not think they are paying attention but little gets by them. At their best they are smart, sensitive and independent.
Enneagram 5’s I Personally Know
My experience of the three fives I know well is that they don’t generally volunteer information. They are brilliant but hesitate to offer their knowledge and insight into the world. But when they do, they are bang on. What seems to work best with fives is to seek them out and initiate conversation as it will help them feel more comfortable.
Enneagram 5 Downsides
The downside is they can overthink situations, which can lead to loneliness and isolation. Sometimes their stubbornness can get the best of them, causing them to become something of a know-it-all.
Fives are often in scientific, technical, or other intellectually demanding fields. They have strong analytical skills and are good problem-solvers. Fives usually like to work alone and are independent thinkers, but are great to have on a team where there are problems to solve. They want to make the world a more enlightened place.
5 Wings & Movement
The wings are 4 and 6. Fives with a more developed four-wing tend to be more creative and aware of their emotions. Those with a more developed 6 wing tend to be more loyal, anxious, and cautious and are more family orientated.
The movement for a five is to 8 and 7. The 8 energy helps them move toward action, and be more assertive doing whatever it takes to win when they have a justifiable cause to uphold. The move toward 7 helps them to be more spontaneous, fun-loving, and uninhibited.
As I have said before, this is just a quick overview. If you want more information please check out my wife, Crystal’s, website, Journey to Inner Wisdom. I know she is planning on doing an online workshop on the Enneagram in June.
